Local Ranch Owners 'Cautious and Concerned' About Horse Virus

“Cautious and concerned” was how ranch owner Kevin McGinn, owner of Kevin McGinn Stables in Agoura Hills, described his reaction to the recent horse virus outbreak in California.

“We are keeping our horses in and not exposing them to other horses,” said McGinn, whose ranch is located at the Pegasus Equestrian Center. McGinn gives horseback riding lessons, clinics and full training services for horses.

Cases of equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM), a potentially deadly disease caused by the equine herpes virus (EHV-1), has been confirmed in 18 horses that attended two recent equestrian events in Ogden, UT, and Bakersfield, CA.

The 18 horses from 12 counties in California are under state quarantine. On May 21, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed that one horse in Ventura County had contracted EHM from the equestrian event in Ogden.

According to the CDFA, horses infected with the extremely contagious EHV-1 may have one or more of the following symptoms: a fever higher than 102 degrees; lethargy; decreased appetite and neurological signs, including decreased coordination, hind limb weakness and an inability to rise.

Due to the highly infectious nature of the virus, the CDFA recommends that equipment such as bridles and buckets not be shared among horses. People handling horses should wash their hands in between handlings. Those working with sick horses should change their clothes and footwear, and ideally, not handle healthy horses.

So far, Lisa Pembleton of LionHeart Ranch in Agoura has not seen any of the symptoms in their horses. “We are following what our veterinarian has told us and that is to close off the property,” said Pembleton, barn manager of the full-care facility for horses.

“People can still ride, but we can’t let any horses leave and we can’t take in any new horses until further notice,” she said.

Also following her veterinarian’s advice is Kathy Boone of Far West Farms. “We are keeping the horses in and not attending the horse show in L.A. this weekend,” said Boone, barn manager of the Calabasas-based riding school and camp.

The annual Memorial Day Classic Hunter/Jumper Show is taking place as scheduled, from Thursday through Monday, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, according to the website of Langer Equestrian Group, the event organizer.

Boone recalled her initial reaction when news of the outbreak reached her farm. “We panicked until we got better informed. We’re just cautious now,” she said.

Even low-volume stables like the Healing Equine Ranch in Calabasas are vigilant. “We’re in a secluded location, and we’re not a boarding facility, but we’re also laying low and not letting our horses go anywhere,” said Kiki Ebsen, owner and manager of the horse rescue and training facility.

The ranch usually only has 10 to 15 horses at any one time, but Ebsen said they are “playing it safe for the next four weeks at least.”

Dr. Linda Rydgig, a veterinarian from Progressive Equine, based in Camarillo, said that keeping horses isolated was the best course of action at this time. “It is the cautious and proactive thing to do until we no longer have any new cases of this fatal disease,” she said.